Since 1992, when David Jewitt and Jane Luu of the University of Hawaii
discovered the first Kuiper Belt Object (KBO), astronomers have been
working to explore the vast and intriguing region beyond Neptune known as
the Kuiper Belt. Tens of thousands of these icy KBOs await discovery as
they slowly orbit the Sun.

The Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES) is an initial reconnaissance of the Kuiper
Belt being conducted at facilities of the National Optical Astronomy
Observatory by a multi-institutional team of
astronomers. The survey is aimed at gauging the shape and extent of the
Belt and learning the spatial and orbital distribution of the KBOs
themselves.

This site serves as a resource for 1) members and collaborators of the DES
Team to aid in information sharing and monitoring program progress, 2) for
astronomers involved in other KBO research, and 3) for those interested in
using the images obtained in the course of the DES for other scientific or
educational purposes. Non-astronomers may find the introductory sections
of the site to be of interest.